Hanger



Nov. 22, 1966 E. MEYER ETAL.

HANGER Filed Nov.

JAMES i ET EO m I ENTORS I )Faaznnon/ fowl/v L. Mars/L United States Patent HANGER Edwin L. Meyer, 376 Cleveland Ave., Bridgeport, Conn., and James W. Robertson, Silver Hill Road, Easton,

Conn. i V

Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,029

Claims. (Cl. 211 -34) This invention relates to boot hangers and particularly to an improved boot hanger of simple construction and capable of fitting any boot.

Boots, and hip boots in particular, tend to deteriorate when stored, primarily because the leg portions fold over, preventing the free circulation of air within the boot. Also, when boots are removed after wearing, they are usually moist inside from perspiration or other causes. The absence of circulating air within the moist boots often causes mildewing and other deteriorating effects.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a boot hanger of simple construction which, when in use, will permit the free circulation of air throughout the interior of the boot.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a boot hanger that can be contracted and expanded easily to facilitate its attachment to the inner wall of the boot adjacent the entrance end thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a boot hanger which will include means for cooperating with existing boot structure to support the boot in upright, open position.

In one aspect of the invention, a strip of flexible material may have guides formed in spaced relation at one end thereof which will receive the other end of the strip.

In another aspect of the invention, after the end opposite that supporting the guides has been threaded through the guides to form a circular band, the free end of the strip may be bent inwardly to form a finger grip.

In still another aspect of the invention, near the midpoint of the length of the strip, a connector and an eye may be attached, to the latter of which a lace or line may be fixed.

In use, by grasping the finger grip and applying a tangential force to the ends of the strip, the band may be contracted so that it will fit Within the mouth of a boot slightly below its top edge. The connector may be snapped into a cooperating element attached to the boot. Then, by expanding the band, it can be caused to exert a radial force on the Wall of the boot at all points about the band. This will form a ridge on the boot wall above the expanded band of less diameter than the band. The band is applied to the boot such that the eye is diametrically opposite the conventional strap on the boot. Accordingly, by tying the free end of the cord to the boot strap, the boot may be suspended in upright condition with the mouth of the boot expanded to its maximum size. Accordingly, free circulation of air throughout the boot is assured.

The above, other objects and novel features of the improved boot hanger will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing which are merely exemplary.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boot to which has been applied a hanger embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a strip of material from which the hanger has been made;

FIG. 3 shows the hanger per se; and

FIG. 4 is a detail of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a boot hanger including a 3,286,845 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 twice as great as the thickness of strip 10. The guides 11 and 12 may be permanently fixed to strip 10 so that the end 13 of the latter opposite that supporting the guides can be threaded through the interior of the guides 'in a fashion to lie along the strip 10 itself, thus forming a circular band. After the end 13 has been threaded through the guides 11 and 12, it may be bent at right angles to itself, forming a finger grip 14.

Near the midpoint along the strip 10, the male member 15 of a snap connector may be permanently secured, and to it may be fixed an eyelet 16. A cord 17 may be attached to eyelet 16, the cord being of such length as to more than span the circular hanger.

In use, a female member 18 of the snap connector may be attached to a boot 19 diametrically opposite the conventional strap 20 that is attached to the top of hip boots. The band is contracted so that it passes into the mouth of the boot where member 15 is snapped into member 18. The band is then expanded by moving the finger grip 14 in the correct direction until the band is forced into contact with the inner wall of the boot adjacent the top thereof. The cord 17 is then strung over a line 21 and tied to the strap 20 of the boot, thereby suspending the boot 19 from line 21 with the leg of the boot open, permitting free circulation of air throughout the interior of the boot.

Although the various features of the improved boot hanger have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details, and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boot hanger, a strip of resilient, relatively stiif material having guide means formed at one end thereof; a connector attached to said strip at substantially its midpoint; an eyelet fixed to said connector, the construction being such that the end of the strip opposite that supporting the guide means can be threaded through the guide means to form an expansible and contractable hoop; and a cord fixed to said eyelet.

2. In a boot hanger, a strip of resilient, relatively stiif material having guide means formed at one end thereof; a connector attached to said strip at substantially its midpoint; an eyelet fixed to said connector, the construction being such that the end of the strip opposite that supporting the guide means can be threaded through the guide means to form an expansible and contractable hoop; finger gripping means at the end of said strip opposite that having said guide means; and a cord fixed to said eyelet.

3. In a boot hanger, a strip of resilient, relatively stiff material having guide means formed at one end thereof; a connector attached to said strip at substantially its midpoint; an eyelet fixed to said connector, the construction being such that the end of the strip opposite that support ing the guide means can be threaded through the guide means to form an expansible and contractable hoop; a cord fixed to said eyelet; and a cooperating snap element for said connector adapted to be secured to a boot.

4. In a boot hanger, a strip of resilient, relatively stiif material having guide means formed at one end thereof; a connector attached to said strip at substantially its midpoint; an eyelet fixed to said connector, the construction being such that the end of the strip opposite that supporting the guide means can be threaded through the guide means to form an expansible and contractable hoop; finger gripping means at the end of said strip opposite that having said guide means; a cord fixed to said eyelet; and a cr'joperating snap element for said connector adapted to be secured to a boot.

5. In a boot hanger, a strip of resilient, relatively stiff material; guide means fastened to said strip adjacent one .end thereof; connector means attached to saidstrip between the ends thereof; cord connecting means on said connector, the construction being such that the strip can be threaded through said guide means to form an expansible and contractable hoop; and a cord fixed to said cord connecting means.

References Cited by the Examiner 1., STATES PATENTSL Triner 223-,-88 Smith 211113 Riehl 101--404 Barney 3421 Mills 12114.6

Legman 222180 10 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A BOOT HANGER, A STRIP OF RESILIENT, RELATIVELY STIFF MATERIAL HAVING GUIDE MEANS FORMED AT ONE END THEREOF; A CONNECTOR ATTACHED TO SAID STRIP AT SUBSTANTIALLY ITS MIDPOINT; AN EYELET FIXED TO SAID CONNECTOR, THE CONSTRUCTION BEING SUCH THAT THE END OF THE STRIP OPPOSITE THAT SUPPORTING THE GUIDE MEANS CAN BE THREADED THROUGH THE GUIDE MEANS TO FORM AN EXPANSIBLE AND CONTRACTABLE HOOP; AND A CORD FIXED TO SAID EYELET. 